• During public testimony, it was pointed out the city has ceased collecting trash at ocean “lookouts” like those at Midway and Forward streets, which presents a potential safety hazard, as well as being aesthetically displeasing.

“Happy government shutdown day,” quipped Sarah Czarnecki, U.S. Rep. Scott Peters field representative, noting Peters considers the situation as “completely unacceptable,” vowing to donate his pay to charity for the duration of the legislative impasse.

Czarnecki said the temporary federal government shutdown is having extensive ripple effects.

“Federal agencies are short-staffed or shut down all together,” she said. “Federal employees cannot take paid sick leave. Social Security payments might take a little longer to get through. For anyone employed by the federal government, there’s no funding stream unless you’re a member of the military.”

More information is available on Peters’ website at scottpeters-.house.gov.

BRCC vice chair Andrew Ward said merchants are hosting a Halloween window painting again this year on Saturday, Oct. 26. He said the council is asking for community volunteers to step forward to assist, particularly with cleanup afterward.

• On Halloween night Thursday, Oct. 31, police, as they have the past few years, will be out in force in the community. A haven for trick-or-treaters, Halloween night was problematic in the past in Bird Rock for vandalism and other offenses until the police presence was beefed up. Local residents once again are being asked to hand out candy only between the hours of 5 and 8 p.m. to help control the anticipated large crowd.

• BRCC treasurer Barbara Dunbar reminded residents that the annual meeting of the Bird Rock MAD to determine the maintenance district’s budget next year will be part of the group’s agenda on Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 6 p.m. at the Masonic Lodge Community Room, 5655 La Jolla Blvd.

“We’re aware we’re having two meetings together and that it’s election night, but in order to get the budget to the city in January, we have to present it in November,” she said.

Dunbar said maintenance problems in boulevard medians are ongoing with “people repeatedly driving over our landscaping and wrecking irrigation, wiping out plants, etc.” She asked people to report MAD problems of any kind at info@birdrockcc.org.

“Bring your microwaves, your VCRs, your old equipment from the 1960s or ’70s and we’ll use it to transform the school, creating a beautiful mural to make the campus more aesthetically pleasing as we’ve done in the past,” LaCava said, noting the event raised about $3,500 the first time around. She said used cell phones are particularly valuable, as they are worth $35 or $40 apiece when recycled.